The Scroll A Periodic newsletter for SAM's Lambs http://www.samslambs.org	*The Rev: A View from Upstairs*
*Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University* Only published one book. It was in Hebrew. It had no references. He did not publish it in referenced journals. Some doubt He even wrote it Himself. He is not known for his cooperative work. Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately? He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects. When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects. When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample. He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book. It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class. Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests. He expelled His first two students for learning. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top. (From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College) Internet References: Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?	*From The Rev:* *On A Thanksgiving Walk* by Reverend Lance Robbins Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd It’s hard to believe the holidays are already upon us. As I think about Thanksgiving I am often filled with mixed emotions. Traditionally it’s a time to reflect and give thanks, but what if we simply don’t feel thankful? A few years ago, a good friend, who is Chaplain at the University of Chicago, gave a brief meditation on Thanksgiving. It seems very appropriate to our upcoming season. In part he wrote: "Sometimes, it’s not easy to be thankful. It’s especially hard to be thankful for the many things that make us the unique individuals we are. I remember well the many times I have fervently wished, and as fervently prayed, to be other than who I found myself to be… "We have come to that season of the year when we are exhorted by religion and social impulse to render our thanks for all God’s many blessings. No matter that those same blessings seem about as useful and appropriate to us as Reeboks to a rooster. "It’s hard to be thankful when you know you look strange, and suspect your Mama is dressing you funny, when it seems as though one has been singled out of all the people of the world to be the only one who doesn’t quite fit in, and can’t quite ‘get with the program’. "We have been encouraged, especially in this season and this culture, to measure our own blessings by relative comparison. ‘Just walk in the other person’s shoes,’ we are told, ‘and then you’ll be more thankful for your own.’ Well, I’m sorry, but I just can’t walk in the other person’s shoes; his shoes are a different size and if you think my shoes look funny, just imagine what I’d look like in hers. "And that’s at least part of the problem, We can’t walk in one another’s shoes. It’s all we can do to walk in our own. Before we can address our intolerance of others, we must consider well how little intolerance we have for ourselves. And before we can address our inhumanity to others, we must confess how little patience or appreciation we have for our own humanness, our own humanity. Far more disturbing than what our ugliness and bitterness say about the way we see others, is what they reveal of the way we see ourselves. I’m not at all sure that we shall curb the ugly tide by learning how to walk in the other person’s shoes so much as by learning how to walk in the shoes God has given us." As I once again read through those lines, I realized that while I’ve stumbled, I’m getting the hang of it. I’m learning to walk in my own shoes: I’m learning to be thankful. This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll notice my nice shoes. Anyone for a walk? Faithfully, (The Rev) Lance Robbins, Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281 Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site. Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.

The Scroll
A Periodic newsletter
for SAM's Lambs
http://www.samslambs.org

The Rev: A View from Upstairs

Why God Will Never Get Tenure at Any University

Only published one book.
It was in Hebrew.
It had no references.
He did not publish it in referenced journals.
Some doubt He even wrote it Himself.
He is not known for his cooperative work.
Sure. He created the world, but what has He done lately?
He did not get permission from any review board to work on human subjects.
When one of His experiments went awry, He tried to cover it up by drowning all the subjects.
When sample subjects do not behave as predicted, He deletes the whole sample.
He rarely comes to class. He just tells His students to read the Book.
It is rumored that He sometimes lets His Son teach the class.
Although He only has 10 requirements, His students often fail His tests.
He expelled His first two students for learning.
His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.

(From faculty members at Kansas State University and instructors at Allen County Community College)

Internet References:

Singles in the Church: Is There Seating For One In The Church?

From The Rev: On A Thanksgiving Walk

by Reverend Lance Robbins
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

It’s hard to believe the holidays are already upon us. As I think about Thanksgiving I am often filled with mixed emotions. Traditionally it’s a time to reflect and give thanks, but what if we simply don’t feel thankful? A few years ago, a good friend, who is Chaplain at the University of Chicago, gave a brief meditation on Thanksgiving. It seems very appropriate to our upcoming season. In part he wrote:

"Sometimes, it’s not easy to be thankful. It’s especially hard to be thankful for the many things that make us the unique individuals we are. I remember well the many times I have fervently wished, and as fervently prayed, to be other than who I found myself to be…

"We have come to that season of the year when we are exhorted by religion and social impulse to render our thanks for all God’s many blessings. No matter that those same blessings seem about as useful and appropriate to us as Reeboks to a rooster.

"It’s hard to be thankful when you know you look strange, and suspect your Mama is dressing you funny, when it seems as though one has been singled out of all the people of the world to be the only one who doesn’t quite fit in, and can’t quite ‘get with the program’.

"We have been encouraged, especially in this season and this culture, to measure our own blessings by relative comparison. ‘Just walk in the other person’s shoes,’ we are told, ‘and then you’ll be more thankful for your own.’ Well, I’m sorry, but I just can’t walk in the other person’s shoes; his shoes are a different size and if you think my shoes look funny, just imagine what I’d look like in hers.

"And that’s at least part of the problem, We can’t walk in one another’s shoes. It’s all we can do to walk in our own. Before we can address our intolerance of others, we must consider well how little intolerance we have for ourselves. And before we can address our inhumanity to others, we must confess how little patience or appreciation we have for our own humanness, our own humanity. Far more disturbing than what our ugliness and bitterness say about the way we see others, is what they reveal of the way we see ourselves. I’m not at all sure that we shall curb the ugly tide by learning how to walk in the other person’s shoes so much as by learning how to walk in the shoes God has given us."

As I once again read through those lines, I realized that while I’ve stumbled, I’m getting the hang of it. I’m learning to walk in my own shoes: I’m learning to be thankful. This Thanksgiving, I hope you’ll notice my nice shoes. Anyone for a walk?

Faithfully,

(The Rev) Lance Robbins,
Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd,
Webster NY Tel: 585-872-2281

Good Shepherd church has begun a new Singles Ministry which is open to all single people in the Webster NY area, of any denomination and any single marital status. You can view their progress on their site.

Bishop Jack McKelvey of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester NY recently visited Good Shepherd where he delivered an address on "Marks of an Effective Congregation" It looks like Good Shepherd’s congregation and clergy would definitely fall in the Effective Congregation category.